I have the pleasure of informing you of the safe arrival of the Types on Thursday last, per the Packet, Capt. Bird, after a passage of five days. The next day after their arrival I had them entered at the Custom House where the Collector (Gen. Lamb) obliged me to deposit 25- ths Dollars as a duty at 3½ per Cent notwithstanding the Certificate which you was so obliging as to send me. As this duty was unexpected it comes rather hard on me. And on calculaltion I find I have expended for Freight, Cartage, Insurance, Customs, &c. &c. 56½ dollars already.

I have the misfortune to find that the Types are in very bad order—all the paper and Cords being rotten and the boxes from having been broken were mended by long nails drove in in many places, which piercing thro’ whole pages, has broke many of the Letters. But this is not the greatest evil, from some mismanagement or other, we have no one fount complete. A particular List of the imperfections I shall make out and transmit you in a few days, and for the present only beg your attention to the perfecting   Petite Romain which is perfectly useless for the want of lower Case   round S sk and small Capitals of the Roman; Of the Italic there is but two or three sorts of Capitals and lower Case—which puts me to great inconvenience as to carrying on the paper for I have parted with my old Long Primer, and the Texte which is the only Letter we can use is too small and unhandy for a Daily paper. I presume there has been some mistake about the Boxes which contained the Romain, as there must be at least 100 lb of Sorts missing.

To the Petite Texte there is wanting of the Roman sk, ss, sh, dashes and small capitals—of the Italic, Lower case c, sh, sk and ss. These are sorts (excepting the c,) of which this fount is quite destitute—as may be seen by a reference to the Newspaper—and to take the imperfections and weigh them, I suppose there would be at least 150 lb. all supernumerary letters.

As these Types have been cast in French Moulds, for which Language the letter (W) is not much used, these seems to have been no improvement made on it, for it is of the true old stile and appears to great disadvantage; It would therefore be better for the Credit of the Foundery, and improvement of the Printing Office, that new punches should be made for these letters both Capitals and Lower case, with which I could wish to be supplied as soon as possible, for it pains me to see an extensive New Office have so ancient an appearance as is occasioned by those Letters.

I hope you have received the Papers regularly as they are carefully sent to the Post Office under Cover to Mr. Bryson, by his request. There is Two British Packets due now which are momently expected—on their arrival I promise myself some advantage from the Liberty you have given me of making use of your papers.

For the want of time and the opportunity of a good private conveyance, I have delayed addressing you till the present moment, and and even now in so great a hurry as to be obliged to request you will excuse those inaccuracies, &c. which are the result of haste. My best respects to yourself, Mr. and Mrs. Beach and family—And believe that I am Sir with great Regard Your Obedient Servant